Monday May 7

• Police begin investigating a claim a man was seen dragging a girl towards a marina a short drive from the Portuguese resort where she went missing.
• Portuguese media later report that police think the abductor may have been British but this remains unconfirmed by officers involved in the investigation.
• Mrs McCann makes another personal plea to anyone holding her daughter, saying: “Please, please do not hurt her. Please do not scare her. Please let us know where to find Madeleine or put her in a place of safety and tell somebody where.”
• Portuguese police later hold a chaotic press conference where they say they cannot give Madeleine’s family any firm assurance that she is still alive or still in the region.